Report: Le'Veon Bell Expected to Return to Steelers During Week 7 Bye

Bell has held out the season's first four weeks due to a contract dispute.

Le'Veon Bell will make his return to the Steelers by the end of October, per ESPN's Jeremy Folwer, with the three-time Pro Bowler expecting to "report to the Steelers during the Week 7 bye."

Le'Veon Bell expects to report to the Steelers during the Week 7 bye, a source told @ESPN. Bell definitely plans to play football for the Steelers this season.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 1, 2018

Bell has held out of Pittsburgh's first four games this season due to a contract dispute. He has been fined $853,000 for each game he's sat out in 2018. 

The Steelers offense struggled in Week 4 without the Michigan State product, scoring just 14 points against the Ravens. Pittsburgh ranked fifth in the NFL in points per game last season behind 1,291 rushing yards and nine touchdowns from Bell. 

Despite his presumed return, there's no guarantee Bell will be a Steeler by Week 7. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Pittsburgh will still listen to trade offers for the impending free agent, adding that Bell's plan to return, "would not dissuade the Steelers from making a deal that made sense."

Pittsburgh still is expected to be interested in listening to trade offers for RB Le'Veon Bell, per league sources. Bell now planning to report later this month would not dissuade the Steelers from making a deal that made sense.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 1, 2018

Pittsburgh will take the field in two more contests before Bell's potential return. The Steelers host the Falcons on Oct. 7, then travel on the road to face the Bengals on Oct. 14. Bell's expected first game back will be on Oct. 28 against the Browns.